The Biosystematics Group is interested in studying processes that generate and maintain biodiversity, above and below species level. We focus on speciation, domestication and plant-animal interactions, using phylogenetic tools producing patterns to study the underlying processes. The group is a member of the National Herbarium of the Netherlands (NHN) and coordinates one of the four NHN task forces - molecular systematics, biogeography and phylogeny. Taskforcemolecular

Research of the Chair Group Biosystematics is part of the research program of the Graduate School 'Experimental Plant Sciences' (EPS) and the national Research School 'Biodiversity' (BIODIV).

The Herbarium Vadense Group will become part of the new Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis (NCBN).
For more information visit: The Herbarium .

The research is structured around the following themes:

1.     Plant speciation processes (phylogeny reconstruction, molecular evolution and macro-evolutionary interpretation of 
        different plant groups

2.    Systematics of cultivated plants and their wild relatives
       This theme focuses on the domestication process (the origin of crops from their wild ancestors) and on the special
       classification and nomenclature needed for cultivated plant material. Further information: Personal site Ronald v.d. Berg

3.    Animal systematics

4.    Plant insect interactions
       
       This theme aims at elucidating processes underlying patterns in biodiversity of plants and their associated insect herbivores.
       The research is multidisciplinary and comparative, combining insect and host-plant phylogenetic trees with data from host-
       plant phytochemistry and behavioural experiments. Further information: Personal site Robin van Velzen
       or National Herbarium Task Force.